Harbin and Economic Trends

Harbin is the provincial capital and the largest city of Heilongjiang province. It is a key political, economic, scientific, cultural, and communications hub in northeastern China. With a population of 10 million and an area of 53,068 square kilometers, the city has jurisdiction over 9 districts, 2 county-level cities, and 7 counties.

The ongoing reform and opening have facilitated the rapid development of the industry in Harbin, and the status and function of the tertiary industry in the national economy are becoming increasingly conspicuous. Harbin's key industries include equipment manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and petrochemicals. The city produces commodity grains, textiles, and other cash crops thanks to its nutrient-rich black earth soil. It has established a complete agricultural process chain, with the agricultural sector accounting for around 10 percent of the city’s GDP.

In 2021, the GDP reached 518 billion RMB, up 5.3% compared to the previous year, while the GDP per capita amounted to 59,100 RMB. The total value of Harbin’s international trade reached 35 billion RMB in 2021, with the exports amounting to 18 billion RMB and the total value of imports to 17 billion RMB.

The Chinese City Tier System consists of a system of tiers used by analysts to classify Chinese cities and rank them in a hierarchy. Cities in different tiers reflect differences in consumer behaviour, income level, population size, consumer sophistication, infrastructure, talent pool, and business opportunity.